Chapter VI: Part I: , p. 1-96, for 1863, printed in April to December, 1863 (6)

I possess but one specimen of this Grapta. It was collected by
Dr. Hillebrand, in Yosemite Valley, during his late visit to
California. It agrees in all essential points with two other
specimens which I obtained through the kindness of Mr. W. H.
Edwards, of New York. The California specimen differs by a
somewhat lighter coloration on both sides, especially below
where the ground color passes into a yellowish brown, while in
the Eastern specimen it becomes a bluish gray. On the upper
side, also, the bluish coloration of the edge of the angulated
wings of the Eastern form is replaced by a yellowish tint.

I would be inclined to take _G. Comma_ for a local variety of
_G. C-album_, were it not for the caterpillar, which, according
to Mr. Harris, resembles that of _G. interrogationis_, and
is entirely without that strangely dimidiate coloration so
characteristic in _G. C-album_.

In _G. C-album_ I cannot find any difference between my
Californian and European specimens. Our vernal generation is
larger and somewhat lighter colored than any European specimens
I have ever seen. The caterpillar has a curious dimidiate
coloration, which I have never seen except in this species: the
fore part being white, the abdominal part yellow. I found it
on Urtica, but it will probably be found on other Urticaceous
plants, herbaceous as well as arborescent. _G. C-album_ is not
common in the immediate neighborhood of San Francisco, but it
is rather abundant in woody and mountainous districts.

The Atlantic States are richer in species of this genus than
either Europe or California, the two latter of which possess
the same number of species.

Europe. California. Atlantic Slope.

_G. C-album._ _G. C-album._ _G. C-album._
_G. Triangulum._ _G. Comma._ _G. Comma._
—— —— _G. Faunus._
—— —— _G. Progne._
—— —— _G. interrogationis._

VANESSA Fabr.

_Vanessa Californica_ Boisd.

The caterpillar of this species feeds on Ceanothus, and lives
socially like that of _V. Urticæ_ L., from which it differs
very little. It is of a velvety black, and the spines which
cover it are also black.

_V. Californica_ is remarkable from its being one of the few
wandering Lepidoptera yet known. The first migration I observed
was on November 15th, 1856, when numbers of this butterfly flew
over San Francisco in a general direction of south-south-east.
They flew singly, and never crowded into swarms. Most of these
butterflies passed over our streets at too great a height
to permit close inspection—a few alighting here and there
on lamp-posts, sign-boards, or in the more rural parts, on
flowers. It was from these that I obtained the specimens in
my collection. They nearly all looked worn and shattered, and
there were no fresh specimens among them: clearly indicating
that they were not raised in the neighborhood of the city,
but had come from distant parts. On the 18th some of the
stragglers were still to be seen, but on the 19th they had
all disappeared. The second migration took place last fall,
but did not reach San Francisco. I received a series of
specimens, caught by Dr. Cooper, on the road to Lake Taho.
Others I received from Oregon, where they were collected by
Mr. Gabb, during his geological examination of those northern
regions. Neither Dr. Cooper nor Mr. Gabb observed any marked
direction in the flight of these butterflies; they agree that
the species was strikingly numerous. Mr. Gabb represents it
as settling on the ground in dry arroyos, very shy, and when
frightened, always returning to the same spot—a behavior which
pretty nearly corresponds with that of the nearest relative,
the European _V. Polychloros_. Both of these authorities prove
merely an unusual number of this butterfly at an unusual time
of the year. The description of the habits of the insect, as
observed by Mr. Gabb in the Umpqua Valley, show clearly that
there it felt at home. By comparing notes received from Mr.
Johnson, of Marin County, I have come to the conclusion that
the country to the northward, crowded with this Vanessa, must
have sent at least one colony south; and I was told by the
above-mentioned gentleman, the statement being confirmed by
several intelligent farmers of the same neighborhood, that
large numbers of a brown butterfly had come from San Quentin,
and crossed over that part of the bay which stretches between
San Rafael and Saucelito. About the same time, great numbers of
the same insect were observed in Lagunita Valley, at the base
of Tamal Pais, where the swarms gathered in a great crowd, and
disappeared as suddenly as they came.

I trust that my loquacity in regard to the habits of this
species will be pardoned. I consider the observation of facts
touching the migration of animals, of the highest importance,
and think it desirable that all observations on these points
should be put on record: so that hereafter, when a sufficient
number of instances may have been collected, conclusions may
be drawn, and perhaps many hitherto inexplicable points in the
geographical distribution of insects, and of organic life in
general, may be explained.

This butterfly is rather rare in common years, and is, perhaps,
notwithstanding its name, _V. Californica_, not exactly an
indigenous species, at least not in the middle counties of our
State. Unlike all other _Vanessidæ_ known to me, it has but one
generation, at least in California, where the imago is always
found late in the season. I do not venture to decide whether
_V. Californica_ requires a longer time for development in the
larva state than the other _Vanessidæ_, or whether it has
its vernal generations somewhere else in adjacent countries.
I have found but one colony of caterpillars. It was in July,
and most of the individuals were nearly full grown; they were
rather delicate, the majority died in the larva state, seven
transformed about the end of the month, and a single chrysalis
produced a crippled butterfly.

_Vanessa Milberti_ Godt.

This species is common in woody localities. The caterpillar
is very much like that of _V. Californica_, and only a few
individuals show a distinguishing mark in the shape of a
longitudinal, lateral stripe of sulphur yellow. It feeds on
_Urtica_.

_Vanessa Antiopa_ L.

There is nothing to add in regard to this long and well-known
species. The caterpillar feeds here, as everywhere else, on
willows.

The true Vanessæ have about the same geographical distribution
as the Graptæ. They also have a predilection for Urticaceous
plants. Only the most northern species is amphigeic.

Europe. California. Atlantic Slope.

_V. Antiopa._ _V. Antiopa._ _V. Antiopa._
_V. Urticæ._ _V. Milberti._ _V. Milberti._
_V. Polychloros._ _V. Californica._ _V. C-album._

There is a balance in favor of the Old World—the beautiful type
of _V. Io_ not being represented on this continent—and also the
type of _V. Polychloros_, containing a few species, as, for
instance, _V. Xanthomelas_, that make it appear more numerous.

PYRAMEIS Hubn.

_Pyrameis Atalanta_ L.

Larva feeds on Urtica.

_Pyrameis Carye._

This species is by far the most common butterfly in California.
The caterpillar is very variable in its coloration, and is
so like that of _P. Atalanta_, in company with which it is
frequently found, that I have never succeeded in finding any
distinguishing characters. It feeds throughout the year on
_Urtica_ and on several malvaceous plants, and has the habit of
all its congeners, of hiding itself in a rolled up leaf.

_Pyrameis Cardui_ L.

This most cosmopolitan of all diurnals, affects here, in its
larva state, several malvaceous plants, and also the genus
_Gnaphalium_, and its relations; but the plant for which it
shows the greatest predilection is _Silybum Marianum_, a
plant which formerly did not exist here, and has only spread
since 1852. It now forms thickets in the neighborhood of San
Francisco, as well as near most of our inland towns, but has
never spread to a great distance from settlements. _P. Cardui_
frequents the same localities, and I found the same species in
Australia in the same relation to the same immigrated plant,
_Silybum Marianum_. I know very well that _P. Cardui_ existed
here, as well as in Australia, before the immigration of this
Mediterranean plant; but still, it is a remarkable fact that
this cosmopolitan butterfly, notwithstanding its ability to
adapt itself to plants of the most different families, still
clings with such tenacity to a cosmopolitan plant, to whose
universal distribution it is perhaps much indebted for the wide
range which it itself attains.

Next to the cosmopolitan character of this plant, _P. Cardui_
owes its great extent probably to its many generations and
certain irregularities in the time of the appearance of the
perfect insect; so that small colonies of the species are
not so liable to be destroyed by inclemency of climate or
exceptional atmospheric agencies; for a being that exists at
the same time in the four stages of the egg, larva, chrysalis,
and imago, has more chances of escaping cataclysms and deluge
than others that are all at one time in the same stage of
existence. The extent of the influence exerted by the number
of generations, and the irregularity of period, can be very
clearly recognized by the circumstance that species with one
generation are always the most local; for instance, certain
_Meliteæ_, _Argynnidæ_, _Theclæ_, most of _Sphingidæ_, etc.;
that also the cosmopolitanism develops in proportion to the
number of generations, and attains its maximum in certain
_Vanessidæ_, _Danaidæ_, _Pyrameis_, etc.

_Pyrameis Hunteri_ Fab.

This species seems to have, in California, but one generation.
It is not common. I have found it only in the latter part
of the season, and have not yet succeeded in finding the
caterpillar. The genus _Pyrameis_ has the widest range of all
the genera of this family. It extends through all latitudes
from the Arctic regions to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape
Horn. On the northern hemispheres it is best represented in
California, which country possesses one peculiar species in
addition to all three of Europe and the Eastern Slope of the
United States.

California. Eastern Slope. Europe.

_P. Atalanta._ _P. Atalanta._ _P. Atalanta._
_P. Carye._ —— ——
_P. Cardui._ _P. Cardui._ _P. Cardui._
_P. Hunteri._ _P. Hunteri._ ——

JUNONIA Hubn.

_Junonia Cænia_ Boisd. et Lee.

Several generations. Caterpillar not yet found in California.
From this enumeration of California _Vanessidæ_ we find, 1st.
That with the exception of _V. Californica_, there is not yet
found any species of this group peculiar to our State, for even
_P. Carye_ exists as well in Chili as here, and is also said to
have been found in Brazil. This circumstance is more striking
since our _Argynnidæ_ and _Meliteæ_ prove altogether local;
none of them being identical with Eastern species, unless a
_Melitæa_, of the type of _Mylitta_, should be found identical
with a form found in Texas. 2. The genera of this group,
north of the Tropic of Cancer, are essentially amphigeic, the
European _Arachnia_ being almost the sole exception. But, as
it were, to compensate this, the tropical amphigeic genus
_Junonia_, wanting in Europe, extends, on our continent, to
high latitudes. 3. As regards the number of specks, the genus
_Grapta_ predominates at the Eastern Slope, _Vanessa_ in
Europe, _Pyrameis_ in California, and our own _Junonia_ is
counterbalanced in Europe by our _Arachnia_.

FAM. LIMENITIDÆ.

LIMENITIS Fabr.

_Limenitis Lorquini_ Boisd.

Like its congeners in other parts of the world, this species
occurs in shady woods, or on the banks of arroyos. It is
peculiar to California and Oregon.

_Limenitis Eulalia_ Doubleday.

In localities similar to the preceding species. These two
species are, as yet, the only ones found in our State. They
represent a peculiar type, forming, in their coloration,
a transition from _Limenitis_ to the South American genus
_Heterochroa_. Neither of these Californians have been found on
the Eastern Slope. _L. Eulalia_ extends to Mexico.

The family _Apaturidæ_ as yet, has not been found in California.

Dr. Trask offered the following article:

Earthquakes in California During the Year 1863.

BY JOHN B. TRASK, M.D.

During the year 1863 we have had but five earthquakes, and as
in former years they have been marked by no serious event, if
we except the light degree of fright induced at the time among
our people.

January 25th.—A severe shock was experienced at San Diego at
2h. 20m. M., which lasted five to eight seconds. There was no
undulation in this case, it consisting of a series of sharp
jars. It was preceded by a deep rumbling noise.

February 1st.—A very smart shock at the Mission San Juan,
Monterey County, at 4h. 1m. P.M. This shock was felt at Gilroys
at 4h. 15m. This town is twelve miles east of the former. At
both places the shock was marked by the undulatory motion. It
was not observed at Monterey, which is nearly twelve miles west
of the Mission.

June——A smart shock at midnight at San Francisco.

August 1st.—Two light shocks at San Francisco, at 10h. 48m.
P.M., and at 11h. 6m. P.M., another shock.

December 19th.—At 2h. 38m. P.M. a smart shock was felt
throughout the city; directly afterwards another and more
severe one occurred. The first was a short, sudden jar, while
the second was undulatory. The accuracy of the telegraph
operator at Santa Clara has enabled us to form a correct idea
of the course of this shock, and to correct to some extent the
popular errors relating to the direction of the seismic wave.
His time was 2h. 44m. 31s., being within 29 seconds of true
time, which would then be 2.45. This gives us only 6½ minutes
difference in elapsed time, and gives for the direction of the
wave an east course in place of north and south, as reported,
which corresponds to our measured observations here. I take
this opportunity of expressing the thanks of the Academy to
this operator for his accuracy and kindness in furnishing us
data in this and other phenomena of scientific and public
interest.

February and March, 1864.

During the present year, 1864, we have had two smart
earthquakes at the date of writing this report.

February 26th.—At San Francisco a light shock at 0h. 40m.
M., and another at 2h. 10m. M. These were reported to me by
persons who were up in the south and west parts of the city.
At 5h. 47m. a very smart shock occurred, having three distinct
vibrations, which induced many to rise somewhat earlier than
was usual. This earthquake was preceded by a strong _electric
storm_ (so called here), between this city and Visalia; the
particulars of which have not as yet all come to hand. It was
followed next day by one of those severe “northers” with which
the people of this State are very familiar. Barometer very low.
This fact is mentioned only on account of the unseasonable
period at which the gale occurred.

This earthquake was felt more severe at San José and Santa
Clara than at this place, and occurred at nearly the same hour.

March 5th.—A severe shock of earthquake at San Francisco at
8h. 49m. M. The first wave had a north and south direction
and continued 1¾ seconds; nearly 1¾ seconds elapsed before
the second shock, which was at 8h. 49m. 3s., and continued 1½
seconds. The second shock was rotatory; the pendulum swinging
north and south from the first shock, began and continued to
describe a short oval or nearly a circle from the effects of
the second shock, and continued thus for more than half an
hour, until stopped and brought to rest. Magnetism was not
suspended in this earthquake, nor any other that has occurred
since my instrument was suspended. These observations were made
at the height of twenty feet four inches from the ground. The
total of time included in the shock was nearly five seconds.
The farthest point south to which I have been able to trace
its effects is the Mission San Juan, and north to Sacramento,
a distance inclusive of 177 miles. In an easterly direction
we have not traced it east of Stockton, about 60 miles. It
was felt at Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Gilroys, south of San
Francisco, and at Santa Rosa and Petaluma to the north.

Since the above was in type, advices have been received from
Visalia. At that locality the shock was very smart. The first
shock took place at 8h. 45m. M., being four minutes earlier
than that at San Francisco. This gives for the entire distance,
north and south (over which the earthquake extended), 257
miles. This extent of latitude, and the almost simultaneous
period of time at which it was observed along the entire line
of distance so far as heard from, leads to the conclusion that
its probable centre was south of San Francisco and nearly in
the same longitude. From the violence of its action I feel
inclined to the belief that its centre was in the neighborhood
of San José, for all accounts agree in this one point, that
more turbulence of the earth’s surface occurred in this region
during its continuance than at any other place yet known. At
Visalia the first shock was a mere tremor, but was followed by
an undulatory movement when the second shock occurred, which
was some three or four seconds later. This wave moved in an
east and west direction at that place.

REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 21ST, 1864.

Dr. Trask in the Chair.

Eleven members present.

Messrs. J. G. Kellogg and Jacob Deidesheimer were elected resident members.

Resolutions were passed in memory of the Rev. T. Starr King, late a member of the Academy, and a copy directed to be forwarded to the family of the deceased.

Donation to the Library: “Descriptions of New Species of Tropical American Birds,” by Geo. N. Lawrence, extracted from the Annals of the New York Lyceum, by the author.

A discussion was held on the popular error of supposing that thunder and lightning are very rare in California, several members stating from their experience that both are common in the higher and more mountainous portions, at all seasons of the year, though rare in the lower regions.

Dr. Behr stated that he had used the root of the _Aspidium argutum Kaulf._, successfully as an antidote for tape-worm since the year 1852, and with better results than attend the use of _A. filixmas_ of Europe.

REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 4TH, 1864.

President in the Chair.

Present, ten members.

Professor Whitney read a paper by Major Williamson, U. S. Engineer, giving the methods of determination and results of measurement by barometer of the depression of “Death Valley” below the level of the sea, made in 1860 by the Cal. and U. S. Boundary Commission. Death Valley was found to be the “sink” of the Armagoza River, which runs near the boundary, east of Owen’s Lake. The observations, are sufficient to show that the valley is from one hundred to two hundred feet lower than the level of the sea.

REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 18TH, 1864.

Dr. Trask in the Chair.

Present, nine members.

W. S. Brigham and Horace Mann were elected corresponding members, being about to proceed to the Sandwich Islands to make a thorough scientific exploration, under the auspices of the Boston Society of Natural History.

The name of Mr. Louis Janin, elected in 1861 but accidentally omitted from the list of members, was directed to be published in the proceedings.

Donations to the Cabinet: About two hundred specimens of rocks and ores from Humboldt River District, by Mr. Highton.

Dr. Trask presented the following paper:

Earthquakes in California from 1800 to 1864.

BY JOHN B. TRASK.

As the subject of earthquakes for some years past has engrossed
much of the attention of scientific observers, I have, at the
request of several members of the Academy, made out a complete
report upon the occurrence of those phenomena upon this coast,
as far as personal observation is concerned, and also so far
only as we have authentic records prior to the occupancy of the
present State of California by the American Government.

The present paper contains, probably, all that can be verified,
and places the subject in a form to which future reference
may be made by other observers abroad; thus enabling them and
ourselves also, to bring together the statistical facts which,
it may be hoped, will help to form some rational theory in
future years relating to the causal agency of those phenomena,
as well as the physical laws governing their action.

In this paper I have reduced the periods of their occurrence
for the thirteen years past to astronomical time, in all
instances where the hour on which the shocks occurred have been
known with certainty, and, without attempting to combat any
theory that has been advanced, or the suggestion of another
relating to their origin, their history has been left as a
record of facts, which will become useful when others of like
character accompany them. Our record, in this State alone has
reached a little more than one-tenth of the number on which M.
Mallet has founded his theory of their origin, and which were
drawn from all parts of the world, and although this may seem a
large proportion for this district of country alone since 1850,
it is not to be presumed that a greater frequency of shocks
have occurred here than elsewhere, but that the same attention
has not been bestowed in recording their occurrence in other
countries where they are known to be much more frequent and
severe than upon our coast.

It might be asked why, if such unquestionable frequency
occurs within the limits of this State we are not subject
to momentary destruction from their effects; the answer to
this is found in the preceding paragraph, from which cause it
will be seen that our experience is more apparent than real,
relatively, and farther still, we should find a much greater
frequency of shocks, beyond all doubt, if the instruments
for their registry in different parts of the State were more
plentiful than at present.

There is no good reason for the supposition that we are in more
danger from these phenomena than upon the Atlantic border,
for the reason that we are so far removed from the centers of
immediate and violent volcanic action, that it would require
dangerous tension of the imagination to place California within
the range of those physical causes which are so conducive to
violent, repeated, and destructive earthquakes. This State
cannot be considered more subject to earthquakes than it is to
volcanoes, relatively, and this is said too in the face of our
own records relating to the former. We need have little fear
from these disturbances so long as we are so far removed on
either hand from the great centers, and even from the terminal
points of those centers of volcanic disturbance, from the
action of which such disastrous consequences have, and will
again follow to their immediate districts.

A moment’s consideration will convince the most sceptical of
the prevailing fallacy relating to this subject. In the first
place, we are situated between two great termini of active
volcanic ranges, the nearest being Colima, 1,200 miles south,
the other on the coast of Alaska, more than 1,300 miles to the
north; the distance inclusive between the points being nearly
or perhaps quite 2,600 miles, in which NO active volcanic vents
abound, unless we make an exception of Mounts Hood and St.
Helen in Oregon, of which the testimony is somewhat dubious,
and the nearest of which is 700 miles. To the east there are no
volcanoes for a distance of 2,500 miles, and to the west for a
much greater distance than in either of the other directions.
This, certainly, should be sufficient to palliate the fears of
the timid, in some degree at least, and to silence in part also
the sensational articles which appear from time to time in the
press of this and the eastern States, as to California being an
oven within the range of active volcanic action, and a volcanic
country.

In preparing this paper I have endeavored to obtain, as far as
possible, the most correct information relating to the history
of these phenomena in former years. It is my desire also to
correct some of the misrepresentations and statements current
relating to the severity of earthquake shocks in this country
during the earlier periods of its history.

I have at the present time some additional information relating
to the great earthquake of 1812, which did not appear in my
first paper on this subject, and which must now be placed on
record. These facts relate more to the phenomena occurring
during that year, rather than to the destruction of the
missions, all of which will be found in their proper place
below.

From careful inquiry of the early settlers and residents I
cannot learn that any more than one earthquake has occurred
which was in any considerable degree of a serious character,
and but one which has caused the destruction of either life or
property to any extent.

This earthquake occurred in the month of September, 1812, and
destroyed the Mission San Juan Capistrano, in Los Angeles
County, and the Mission Purissima (Viejo) in the County of
Santa Barbara. The following is the history of that event
as obtained from the older native inhabitants and foreign
residents on the coast at that time.

The day was clear and uncommonly warm; it being Sunday the
people had assembled at San Juan Capistrano for evening
service. About half an hour after the opening of service,
an unusual loud, but distant rushing sound was heard in the
atmosphere to the east and also over the water, which resembled
the sound of strong wind, but as it approached no perceptible
breeze accompanied it. _The sea was smooth and the air was
calm._ So distant and loud was this atmospheric sound that
several left the building attracted by its noise.

Immediately following the sound, the first and heaviest shock
of the earthquake occurred, which was sufficiently severe
to prostrate the Mission Church of San Capistrano almost in
a body, burying in its ruins the most of those who remained
behind, after the first indication of its approach was heard.

The shock was very sudden and almost without warning, save from
the rushing sound above noted, and to the severity of the first
shock at that moment is to be attributed the loss of life that
followed.

The number reported to have been killed outright, is variously
estimated from thirty to forty-five (the largest number of
persons agree on the smallest number of deaths given), but
in the absence of records such statements should be received
with many grains of allowance, where memory alone is the only
means left, and the term of forty-three years has elapsed
before the period at which this account was placed on paper. A
considerable number are reported to have been badly injured.

There is a universal agreement on this point with those from
whom these facts were derived, viz.: _that the first shock
threw down the entire building, and that a large number of
persons were in it at that moment_, and under the circumstances
it would be most singular if no deaths were caused by such an
event.

It is now nine years since the above facts were published,
and in March, 1864, a writer to me unknown, corroborates this
statement relating to that Mission in these words. “The church
thrown down at San Juan Capistrano by an earthquake in 1812,
was a well built-affair of stone and cement. The cupola or
short steeple falling over the church completely destroying the
building.”

The motion of the earth is described as having _lifted
vertically_, attended by a rotatory movement. _No undulatory_
motion is described by any one. Dizziness and _nausea_ seized
almost every person in the vicinity.

A heavy, loud, deep rumbling, accompanied the successive shocks
that followed, which were five in number, all having the motion
above described, though comparatively light in their effects to
the first. The sounds attending the phenomena came apparently
from the South and East.

In the valley of San Inez, to the south and west of Santa
Barbara, the church now known as the “Mission Viejo” (La
Purissima), was also completely destroyed. At this locality
there were also a number of lives lost, but what number is as
yet very uncertain. The distance between Capistrano and San
Inez is about one hundred and seventy miles. The shock which
destroyed this building occurred about one hour after the
former, and the greater portion of the inhabitants had left
the building but a few minutes before it fell, service having
closed. The first shock felt here prostrated the building, as
in the preceding case.

A Spanish ship which lay at anchor off San Buenaventura,
thirty-eight miles from Santa Barbara, was much injured by the
shock, and leaked to that extent, that it became necessary to
beach her, and remove the most of her cargo.

The writer above quoted corroborates the fact of a ship having
been in this vicinity at the time. The distance of this ship
from Santa Barbara is nearly the same as in my original
statement but in a different direction. From the circumstantial
details of the writer as to the ship “Charan,” _alias_, “Thomas
Newland,” I am inclined to the belief that his statements are
more entitled to adoption than my own; I therefore present his
statement also and leave the reader to adopt either, so far as
regards the ship and her position. “At the same time a Boston
ship the Thomas Newland, known before as the Charan, commanded
by Capt. Isaac Whitmore, was lying off the anchorage not far
from the Gaviota Pass, Santa Barbara County.”

It is an interesting fact, and at the same time somewhat
remarkable, that the time which elapsed between the advent of
the shocks at Capistrano and San Inez is widely variant from
what we should look for, when the distance apart and velocity
of motion in earthquakes are taken into consideration. If the
velocity of the seismic wave in this earthquake was uniform
with those of more recent times, it should have reached La
Purissima in twenty-eight minutes and fifty seconds in lieu of
an hour; but all due allowances must be made for a question of
time in an event of this nature, and also for errors in memory
of persons after the lapse of so many years.

The effect of this earthquake on the sea, in the Bay of Santa
Barbara, is described as follows: “The sea was observed to
recede from the shore during the continuance of the shocks,
and left the latter dry for a considerable distance, when it
returned in five or six heavy rollers, which overflowed the
plain on which Santa Barbara is built. The inhabitants saw the
recession of the sea, and being aware of the danger on its
return, fled to the adjoining hills near the town to escape the
probable deluge.”

The sea on its return flowed inland a little more than half a
mile, and reached the lower part of the town, doing but little
damage, destroying only three small adobe buildings.

Here again I take the liberty of quoting the late writer above
noticed, in corroboration of its effects upon the sea. “The sea
was seen to retire all at once, and to return in an immense
wave, which came roaring and plunging back, over the beach.
This wave penetrated the low lands and gulches a mile from the
shore, forming one of the most terrific sights possible to
conceive.”

Very little damage was done to the houses in town from the
effects of the shocks, while the Mission at San Inez was
prostrated almost instantly. There is no evidence that I can
find, that this earthquake was felt in San Luis Obispo, though
such has been the report.

In addition to my former paper I will now add some information
relating to this and other earthquakes, touching more
particularly a series continuing through a long period for such
phenomena, but preceding the great event of September of that
year.

So far as the archives of the old missions assist us, it is
found that from the foundation of the first mission in 1769, up
to the year 1800, a period of thirty-one years, not an entry
was made of these phenomena. In the latter year an earthquake
is recorded as occurring at San Juan Bautista, on the eleventh
of October. On the eighteenth of the same month, at supper
time another shock was felt, and another still at about eleven
o’clock on the same night. From the records of the Presidio
of San Francisco, we are able to glean the fact, that between
the twenty-first of June and seventeenth of July, 1808, there
occurred twenty-one shocks of earthquakes at this post.

I will here correct the popular error relating to this
earthquake or series of earthquakes during that year. It
is generally stated that this was contemporaneous with
the earthquake which destroyed San Juan Capistrano and La
Purissima; by reference to the dates it will be seen that the
destruction of those missions did not occur until four years
later.

The above are the only records of these phenomena that have
as yet made their appearance in the archives of the province
during the existence of the Mexican Government; and, from the
fact that these archives are all in our possession, there is no
hazard in stating that they constitute all, of which we have
any positive knowledge. As they stand, they are a sufficient
rebuke to the mendacity of sensational itemizers of the public
press; they will find in those records, no basis on which to
indite column articles of such doleful prophecies as the public
of late have been surfeited with.

During a period of thirty-nine years the records of the country
exhibit the fact, that there were but twenty-three days on
which earthquakes occurred and were deemed worthy of record.
If we compare these figures with those recorded from 1850 to
the close of 1863, we shall find much more ground for prophecy
during the latter period than for the eighty-two years of which
records were kept on this coast previous to that time.

From the above extracts from the archives we are left to infer
one of two facts; either that earthquakes were entirely unknown
during the intervals of the record dates, or that they were of
so trivial a character as not to merit the notice of the early
padres during this time; the latter is the probability, for we
can scarcely conceive that nothing of this nature had taken
place. If, however, such be the fact, it cannot be looked upon
in any other light than a manifest anomaly in the history of
this or any other country.

It appears from all the testimony on the subject, that in May,
1812, the south part of the State was frequently agitated with
shocks of greater or less severity, and their continuance was
literally incessant for about four and one-half months. Their
frequency was not less than one each day or two; four days
seldom elapsing without a shock. As many as thirty shocks
occurred in a single day on more than one occasion. So frequent
were they, that the inhabitants abandoned their houses for the
greater part of this period, and lived under trees, etc., and
slept out of doors at Santa Barbara.

This period of time seems analogous in some respects to the
year 1852, and was one of very marked severity on this coast,
as was also the latter year; it was analogous to other periods
of subterranean disturbance in other parts of the earth since
the historic era began, and there is no good reason why we may
not look for the recurrence of similar events in future time.
But we must not lay too much stress on the destruction of the
two mission churches in 1812, to guide us in an estimate of
the force of this earthquake, for the construction of those
buildings had but little relation to similar structures of
modern date, either in strength or material.

From 1812 to 1850, the archives are silent on this subject. In
the latter year our record began and has continued with little
interruption to 1863, a period of thirteen years. Within that
period there are but few earthquakes occurring north of the
thirty-ninth parallel which have escaped notice and have not
been made matter of record.

1850.

During this year the following earthquakes were recorded:

March 12th.—A light shock was felt in San José.

May 13th.—A light shock in San Francisco. An eruption of Mauna
Loa, S. I., and shock same day.

June 28th.—A light shock in San Francisco.

August 4th.—A smart shock was felt in Stockton and Sacramento.

September 14th.—Smart shock at San Francisco and San José.
Total number recorded in 1850, five.

1851.

May 15th.—Three severe shocks in San Francisco. During this
earthquake windows were broken and buildings severely shaken.
A large amount of merchandize was thrown down in a store on
California Street. The shipping in the harbor rolled heavily.
An eruption of Mauna Loa and shock in the Sandwich Islands same
day.

May 17th.—A light shock in San Francisco.

May 28th.—A light shock on the Salinas.

June 13th.—A smart shock at San Francisco. This was felt at San
Luis Obispo and San Fernando.

December 2d.—A shock at Downieville.

December 31st.—A smart shock at Downieville. Total recorded in
1851, six.

1852.

From the beginning of this year until the middle of its last
quarter, no disturbances of the coast was noted until the month
of November. In this month the southern portion of the State
was violently disturbed.

November 26th.—The number of shocks on this day at San Simeon
was eleven, and at Los Angeles and San Gabriel the same number.
Nearly or quite the same number was also observed by parties
having in charge a Government train in transit from Fort Yuma
to San Diego.

This earthquake or the series was experienced over the entire
country, east and south of Luis Obispo to San Diego and the
Colorado River, covering a line of country about three hundred
miles in extent.

From subsequent accounts we learn that it also reached as far
as Guaymas, in the province of Sonora, Mexico.

For a period of six days subsequent to the twenty-sixth of
November, the whole of this region to the Colorado, was
convulsed, with slight intermissions. During this time a _mud
volcano_ opened on the Colorado Desert, and another south of
the river; one of these was visited by a portion of the United
States command under Col. Hientzelman.

December 17th.—Two smart shocks at San Luis Obispo, which
fractured the walls of two adobe buildings, and threw down a
part of the wall of a house belonging to, and occupied by Don
Jesus Pico and family.

During the months of November and December, the southern
particularly, and middle portions of California were much
disturbed; shocks were experienced in those sections for
sixty-five days, with variable intermissions; they were noticed
as far north as the thirty-seventh parallel, but generally
light in their nature. The latest date of this series was to
the fifth of January, 1853, on the valley of the San Joaquin.

The period of time inclusive between the sixteenth of November
(the date of the terrible earthquake at Banda Neira in the
Moluccas), and the twenty-sixth of January, 1853, must be
regarded as one of the most remarkable and portentious periods
of the earth’s history during modern times. For in that period
a greater proportion of the earth’s surface was convulsed by
subterranean forces than has been known for many scores of
years, in the same length of time.

The area most severely affected by these phenomena is included
between the parallels of forty degrees south latitude and
thirty-seven degrees north latitude, and extending from one
hundred and twenty degrees east to the forty-fifth degree
west longitude, being nearly equal to three-fifths of the
equatorial, and a little more than one-half the polar
circumference of the earth.

At this time the coast of eastern Asia, the Islands of the
South Indian Ocean, Singapore, the fated Moluccas, the east
coast of China, the north, east, and south coasts of Australia,
the coast of California, Mexico (west coast,) South America,
with portions of the Atlantic coast of the United States
south of the thirty-fourth parallel, north latitude, shared
in the general disturbance which prevailed on our own shores
during this time. With the twenty-sixth of January ceased the
vibrations on this coast at that time, but we have positive
intelligence that they continued much later on the east coast
of China and Australia, in which countries they did not
cease until the month of February. With these facts before
us we cannot but believe the period included one of the most
turbulent in the earth’s career during modern times.

1853.

Jan. 2d.—A shock of earthquake was felt in Mariposa; this was
observed in San Francisco, Bodega, and at Shasta City.

Jan. 5th.—A shock at Corte Madeira.

Feb. 14th.—A light shock at San Luis Obispo.

March 1st.—A smart shock at San Francisco, which was felt at
San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

April 24th.—A light shock at Humboldt Bay.

April 25th.—Three shocks in quick succession at Weaverville,
Trinity County.

June 2d.—Two smart shocks on the plains of the San Joaquin.

July 12th.—A light shock at Yreka, Siskiyou County.

Sept. 3d.—Four shocks on the Salinas and San Joaquin Plains.

Oct. 23d.—Three heavy shocks at Humboldt Bay.

Oct. 25th.—A light shock at Humboldt Bay.

Nov. 16th.—A light shock at San José.

Nov. 21st.—A shock at San Francisco.

Dec. 11th.—A light shock at San Francisco and Mission Dolores.

Dec. 23d.—A light shock at Shasta.

Total in 1853, 15.

1854.

Jan. 3d.—Two smart shocks in Mariposa, felt also in Shasta.

March 2d.—A light shock at San Francisco.

March 20th.—A shock at Stockton.

April 29th.—A light shock at Santa Barbara.

May 23d.—A shock at Crescent City.

May 31st.—An earthquake at Santa Barbara at 5h. 10m. In this
earthquake there were three distinct waves. The first was
accompanied by profound rumbling; the second shock was preceded
by a loud, rushing noise like the approach of a strong wind.
About four or five seconds elapsed between each shock. The sea
was much disturbed, and a heavy surf swell came in soon after
the second shock passed. This surf-wave rolled inland some
thirty feet beyond the old wreck at the embarcadero. I saw the
effect of this wave in July following. The inhabitants were
much frightened and left their beds for the open air. Very
little damage was sustained.

June 26th.—Two light shocks in Placer County.

July 10th.—One shock at Georgetown.

July 14th.—A shock at Georgetown.

Sept. 14th.—A light shock at Nevada.

Oct. 21st.—A light shock at Monterey.

Oct. 26th.—A smart shock at San Francisco, near midnight. It
was felt at Benicia. This shock was followed by a swell in the
bay, as vessels at the wharfs swayed heavily on their hawsers.

Total in 1854, 12.

1855.

The following is the record of earthquakes for this year, in
the State of California, with the date and hour of the day at
which they were observed:

Jan. 13th, 18h. 30m.—A smart shock occurred at San Benito and
San Miguel. It was felt at San Luis Obispo.

Jan. 24th, 22h.—A heavy shock of earthquake was felt at
Downieville, which lasted seven seconds.

This earthquake was quite severe at Gibsonville on the north,
at Forrest City, Minnesota, in Sierra County, and at Orleans
Flat, Eureka, in Nevada County, at Georgetown and Nashville
in El Dorado County on the south, and at Keystone Ranch,
in Yuba County, on the west. The entire distance north and
south affected was ninety-four miles, and in a westerly line,
thirty miles. The shock was preceded by a deep rumbling, and
the rushing sound of wind in the distance. It shook buildings
severely. A large pinnacle of rocks on the summit of the
Downieville Buttes was thrown down, and some of the large
fragments reached the south branch of the North Yuba, at the
base of the mountain.

Feb 5th, 22h.—A light shock was felt at Wolf Creek and the
north-east part of Nevada County.

April 7th, 18h.—A light shock was felt at Gibb’s Ferry, Trinity
County, and was experienced as far north as Callahan’s Ranch,
at the head of Scott’s Valley, Siskiyou County.

June 25th, 14h.—A smart shock was felt at Santa Barbara, and
extended northward as far as the valley of Santa Maria. This
shock was cotemporaneous with one that occurred in Switzerland.

July 10th, 9h. 30m.—A light shock was felt in Georgetown, El
Dorado County, which lasted about four seconds.

July 10th, 20h. 15m.—A severe shock at Los Angeles, which did
considerable damage.

There were four distinct shocks during the earthquake, with
a period of about two or three seconds elapsing between each
vibration. During their continuance the ground opened in
several places, in fissures of one or two inches, the marks of
which remained for several days afterwards. There were some
twenty-six buildings in the city more or less injured, which
I personally examined, and among them the church, the west
wall of which was split from top to bottom in two places, the
fissures being from one to two and a half inches in breadth,
running entirely through. The east wall split at a slight angle
from the perpendicular, and had but one fissure. The walls of
the Star Hotel were split in several places, and on the west
side there appears to have been a decided horizontal motion,
as the wall was displaced on that side horizontally to the
depth of about one inch, and some eight or nine feet in length.
The amount of displacement decreased from the west end of the
building towards the center. It is a fact worthy of note,
that none of the _thin_ adobe walls of the buildings suffered
injury, while most of the _thick_-walled buildings were injured
to a greater or less extent.

During the earthquake, many articles were thrown down; those
that were standing on shelves against the east end of the
buildings were thrown westward on to the floor, and those
on the opposite end of the buildings were thrown back in an
inclined position against the walls. These features were
noticed in the drug stores of Doctors Winston and Hope,
situated on the main street, and a short distance west of the
church.

The meteorological condition of the atmosphere was rather
unusual, and is described as follows: The day was unusually
warm and sultry, attended with a little rain, (the latter very
unusual) and a sudden change of temperature to unpleasant
coldness. At Point San Juan there was observed considerable
commotion in the water, attended with a strong rushing sound,
and two unusually heavy surf swells, immediately _following the
last shock_.

This shock was felt distinctly at the saw-mill, some eight
miles east of San Bernardino, about seventy miles east of Los
Angeles, and at Santa Barbara, about one hundred miles in a
westerly direction.

Aug 12th, 9h. 30m.—A light shock of an earthquake was felt at
Georgetown, which lasted about three seconds. The vibration
apparently came from the north. Between this date and the tenth
July there were four other light shocks, the dates of which are
not recorded.

Oct. 21st, 19h. 45m.—A smart shock of an earthquake was felt
in San Francisco. The buildings situated over the water were
violently shaken. There was much commotion in the water of the
harbor a few minutes preceding the shock, which caused several
vessels to heave heavily at their hawsers and cables.

Oct 27th, 15h.—A light shock was felt in the valley of Clear
Lake. On the same day a shock was felt at Downieville, which
lasted about five seconds. At Goodyear’s Bar it was more severe
than at the preceding locality.

Dec. 5th, 11h. 20m.—The shock of an earthquake was felt at
Humboldt Bay, which lasted about three seconds. There were two
vibrations, the last being the most severe.

Dec. 11th, 4h.—A shock was felt in San Francisco and at the
Mission Dolores; at the latter place it is represented as being
quite severe.

The whole number of which I have a record for 1855, amounts
to twelve only; but there may be others which have escaped my
notice on account of absence from the city.

The following table will show the number of shocks for each
year, and each month of the year, for six years from 1850 to
1855, inclusive.

----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------
| | | | | | |No. for
| | | | | | |each
|1850 |1851 |1852 |1853 |1854 |1855 |month
| | | | | | |in six
| | | | | | |years.
----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------
January, | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5
February, | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2
March, | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 4
April, | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4
May, | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 6
June, | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5
July, | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3
August, | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2
September, | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3
October, | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6
November, | — | — | 11 | 2 | — | — | 13
December, | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 8
----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------
Total each year,| 5 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 11 |= 59
----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-------

From the above it will be seen that of the total number of
shocks in six years in this State, forty-eight have occurred
during the spring, summer, and autumn months, and eleven during
the winter months.

Of the total number noted, twenty-seven have occurred from San
Luis Obispo south, and of the thirty-two remaining, nine have
been felt in San Francisco at the same time they were observed
at San Luis Obispo, while the remaining twenty-three were felt
at San Francisco and north of that point.

Notwithstanding we have had, what may, perhaps, be considered
a frequency in the recurrence of these phenomena, still there
are but a _very few_ of the total number that would merit a
moment’s consideration south of the twenty-fifth parallel of
north latitude, for there they would be regarded as minor
affairs entirely.

From all the facts in our possession relating to the phenomena
on our coast, it appears that the greatest preponderance in
action and severity of effects, is exerted, for the most part,
south of Point Conception, for, from this place, east, south
and north, to near the Colorado, the most conclusive evidence
exists of very recent volcanic action having been exerted on
rather an extensive scale, and is also still persistent in
several localities within the area named, though in a minor
degree.

It would be interesting to examine the changes of level that
have evidently taken place in this State within the last five
years; but as more extended observations would greatly assist
us in forming conclusions on this subject, I will defer that
portion until a future day.

1856.

At the close of 1855, I presented to the Academy a statement of
the occurrence of earthquakes in this State for that year and a
term of years preceding.

During the year just passed, I have kept a careful record
of these phenomena, which have been noticed in this city,
and other parts of the State, and which will be found below,
with their date, and the hour of the day on which they took
place; they comprise all that have occurred, with perhaps two
exceptions, the dates for which were so obscure as to render
it impossible to determine with accuracy the precise period
of their occurrence. So far as I am informed, those shocks
that have taken place in this State during the past year have
not been marked with more severity than has been usual in
years preceding, frequently amounting to a slight tremor, and
at other times to more distinct movements; three only have
possessed sufficient intensity as to command general attention
during the busy hours of day.

Very few have been noticed by persons who were standing upon
the earth at the period of their occurrence. By far the greater
proportion were observed in high situations from the ground,
and in the more retired parts of the city, or on the alluvial
covering of the country to the west and south.

The total number for the past year is sixteen, and of this
number thirteen were observed between sunset and sunrise.